The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 10, 2025, declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14.86 million.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, the amount represented a part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
The Commission, on November 6, 2025, secured a warrant for Sylva’s arrest from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the order, authorising any EFCC officer, police, or other law enforcement agents to arrest the former minister for questioning over the alleged offence.
“The order is made issuing a warrant to the Applicant or any Officer of the Commission, Police, or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the Respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed,” the court order stated.
The EFCC also appealed to members of the public with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to report to any of its Zonal Offices nationwide or the nearest police station.
In a related development, the anti-graft agency also announced that the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over alleged N80.2 billion fraud, was on Monday adjourned till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation.
The adjournment followed an intense day of proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, during which four witnesses including compliance officers from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank testified.
The fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel of Zenith Bank, under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN), confirmed that several cash withdrawals in multiples of N10 million were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by two officials, Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke.
He also disclosed that several hotels including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels benefited from payments made from the account.
Other witnesses, including Jesutoni Akoni of Ecobank (PW5), Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank (PW6), and Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank (PW7), produced and tendered various account statements and documents linking individuals and corporate entities to transactions under investigation.
After reviewing the exhibits, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
Credit: The Sun